Biological Effects of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids
EPA (20:5) and DHA (22:6)
| Organ(s) | Effect | Mechanism acts through |
| central nervous system | improve cognitive function | membrane composition; retinoic X receptor alpha |
| retina | improve acuity | membrane composition |
| immune | immunosuppressive; antinflamatory | membrane composition; rafts |
| cardiovascular | anti-arrhythmia; anti-clotting |
membrane composition; rafts; eicosanoids |
| serum lipids | lowers triglycerides (risk factor for cardiovas. dis) | peroxisome proliferator receptor alpha and gamma |
| liver | decrease lipid synthesis; increase fatty acid oxid. decrease VLDL synthesis |
sterol reg. element bind. protein; PPAR alpha PPAR alpha |
Adapted from Jump D. The Biochemistry of n-3 Polyunsaturated fatty acids. J. Biol. Chem. 277, pg 8755 (200)